Despite a championship heavily impacted by poor air quality caused by the Canadian wildfires, Colorado athletes turned in an outstanding performance at the 2026 USATF Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held July 16-19 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Originally scheduled as a four-day competition, the meet was effectively condensed into just two days as organizers moved some events to the adjacent indoor track, revised the competition schedule, and canceled others because of unsafe air quality. Even under those difficult circumstances, 22 Colorado athletes combined to compete in 50 events at the national championship, which attracted 1,719 athletes from all 50 states.
Leading the way was Mary Smith (Unattached), who delivered one of the finest performances of the championships. Smith shattered the W85-89 world record in the 200m, running 39.55 to eclipse the previous mark of 40.20, set in 2022 by Christa Bortignon of Canada. She then returned to win the 400m, held indoors, in 1:36.54. Her time was actually faster than both the indoor (1:38.38) and outdoor (1:37.34) world records but will not be ratified as the event was contested indoors on an oversized (300m) track.
Pamela McCartney (Unattached) continued her remarkable season by capturing national titles in the W55-59 300m hurdles and high jump. Her winning clearance of 1.62 meters in the high jump established a new world indoor record, surpassing the 1.58m mark set earlier this year by Julia Machin of Great Britain. (note: the High Jump was held indoors due to the conditions)
Colorado also produced several dominant multi-event champions. Christel Donley (Unattached) swept six W90-94 national titles, winning the high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, javelin, and hammer throw. Marianne Martino (High Altitude Racewalk) earned victories in both the 5,000m and 10 kilometer race walks, while Tracey Bernett (Unattached) claimed national titles in the W70-74 800m and 1500m.
Additional Colorado national champions included Mark Husted (Unattached), who captured the M35-39 800m; Jack Pottle (Boulder Road Runners), who won the M70-74 5000m; and Gary Ostwald (Boulder Road Runners), who claimed the M80-84 5,000m title before adding silver medals in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m.
Colorado athletes also earned numerous additional podium finishes. Carol Wilkinson (High Altitude Racewalk) collected silver medals in both the 5000m and 10 kilometer race walks, while David Bonham (Unattached) was runner-up in the M55-59 pole vault. James McCrimmon (Altitude TC) added silver medals in the M65-69 long jump and triple jump.
Bronze medals were earned by Tanner Cullen (Unattached) in the M30-34 5000m; Michael Blanchard (High Altitude Racewalk) in both the M65-69 5,000m and 10 kilometer race walks; Toby Davis (Unattached) in the M50-54 triple jump; Kim Perales (Unattached) in the W50-54 triple jump; Michael McDonnell (Unattached) in the M65-69 shot put; and Mike Snyder (Unattached) in the M40-44 discus throw.
Despite unprecedented disruptions to the championship schedule, Colorado’s masters athletes demonstrated exceptional resilience, returning home with multiple national titles, world and American records, and an impressive collection of podium finishes.
The complete Colorado results scoreboard can be found here. Next year's championships will be held July 22-25 in Ames, Iowa.